Not everyone looks forward to the first snow like Old Nemirovich. But Pittsburgh snow isn't like the magic Russian snow in Michael Price Nelson's "The Snow Girl." Nor is theater snow -- it isn't cold or wet and, unless you're a stage manager, you don't have to worry about getting rid of it. What really sets the magic snow apart in this story, though, is that a snow girl, built by a lonely couple, comes to life (a little like Frosty but with more graceful results).

		'The Snow Girl' Where: Prime Stage Theater at 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. When: Through Dec. 19. Wed.-Thurs. 7:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $8-$15; 412-394-3353.

Like all of Prime Stage's productions, "The Snow Girl" has a literary origin. It's based on a Russian folktale and has the miraculous and edifying qualities of the genre.

In a small village filled with laughing children, Maroosha mourns her childlessness. She sadly requests her husband, Ivan, to build her a snow girl who, to their shock, comes to life. As much as they love her, a snow girl can't replace a real human child, and they must discover that the true answer to their prayers was in front of them all along. All of this is seen through the wistfully nostalgic eyes of Old Nemirovich, who, as a boy, fell in love with the mysterious snow girl.

The Prime Stage production team nicely creates a world that embodies magical elements and the life of the poor villagers. Set designer Alfred Kirschman packs numerous playing areas into a small space -- wooden hut, snowy yard and the wintry forest and river that Snowflake, the snow girl, loves so much. The stage is prettily draped in white with cotton and fake snow to create drifts.

Director Wayne Brinda keeps the production appropriately simple for this sweet story, focusing on the emotional life of the characters -- the quiet sorrow and joy of Maroosha and Ivan, the dreamy memories of Old Nemirovich and the boisterous excitement of youth, young love and jealousy.

Choreographer Dan Kamin adds some magic to this mix with lovely dances offset with a snowy trick or two.

John Gresh leads the cast as Old Nemirovich, and his calm wonder inspires the same reaction in the audience. Jerry Wienand and Jennifer M. Hawk are warm and loving as the would-be parents.

"The Snow Girl" pretty much belongs to the children, though, because it's their world, a world of winter fun where wishes come true and love is new, urgent and mysterious. Sage Lincoln captures this mystery in expressive eyes as the almost completely silent Snowflake.

Danny Bradley is a delightfully innocent Young Nemirovich, charming, on the verge of adulthood but not ready to give up the playfulness of childhood. Fina Abramovitz plays the hard-shelled Kupava, whose outer toughness barely hides her fear and loneliness. Tagging along is Peter (Max Clark), the quintessential young follower who just wants to fit in with the big kids.

"The Snow Girl" is a lovely family show in the spirit of the holidays. It's definitely not a Christmas show, though, and so provides a nice alternative or addition to the more traditional fare that fills theaters, television and movie houses this time of year.